A snorkel at Toowoon Bay in the morning. The conditions were excellent
- light wind, smooth water, low swell - leading to very clear water.
Highlights:
A lot of fish and a few large ones.
Under one rock crevice was an octopus.
At one section the water was shallow and the sea weed thick and I had
to snorkel though it. It was like being brushed all over as I moved.
Clear water.
12 January 2018
Very small surf.
Jacinta and I drove over to Blue Bay. It was a beautiful white sand
small crescent shaped beach. The swell was small so we walked along the beach towards
the north until we found a good spot to sit.
I went for a snorkel along the northern point. There was reasonable
visibility, a lot of seaweed, glimpses of large fish and a few stingrays on the
sand bottom. I followed a couple of stingrays for awhile. They are so fluid and
graceful in the water.
Back on shore, I had a hike around the rocks while Jacinta continued to
bake and read. The small swell allowed me to walk safely along the rocks close
to the water. There were lots of mollusks, light seaweed, rock pools and
interesting rock formations.
Back to Jacinta and we decided on going to The Entrance for coffee. We
picked a nice cafe on a wooden boardwalk and took in the view while we drunk
our cappuccinos and cake.
13 January 2018
A surf at North Avoca. Looked okay but only had a few nice ones. Most
waves were steep and short.
Down the Haven for a coffee with Jacinta.
About mid day, Jacinta and I drove to Copacabana Beach. A little windy
but had a few fun waves.
A small fun surf at North Avoca Beach about an hour before the high
tide.
The day was very hot 42 degrees and i was lucky again with the waves. i
paddled out and the aves just started to break. For about 40 minutes it as
heaps of fun with two other guys then the tide got too high and it was all over
red rover.
Back on shore, I met a nice couple from Slovakia. They told me a number
of stories of their homeland. They were travelling through Australia.
8 January 2018
A morning surf check and a text to Spot for a mountain bike ride.
We decided on Strickland State Forest and to use two cars.
The first track was the ridge to rainforest. A long, long, downhill on
a smooth track. Beautiful scenery and such a smooth ride.
The second track was the cabbage tree trail. This was very rough and
steep in parts. It was great just making it through the rocks on a narrow
track.
The third track was the stoney creek track that took us down to the
bottom car park. There were some very narrow sections with loose edges and a
steep drop off. A lot of concentration on this track.
The final track was the Arboretum trail. This track was level going
over a small suspension bridge and winding its way narrowly and tightly through
the forest.
10 January 2018
A surf check, well, maybe tomorrow it will be better.
A cappuccino at the Haven then a drive to Girrakool in Brisbane Water
National Park for a short hike with Jacinta.
Just at the entrance there was a rock wallaby on the side of the road.
The weather was cooler today so the hike was pleasant. The water level
of the creeks was very low so that there was no surface flow but the waterfall
the flow was fine. A lot of water must travel under the rocks. In a couple of
places potholes in the rocks showed water underneath.
The cicadas were the dominate sound, actually, the only one has they
were so loud.
A number of wildflowers were still in bloom and the current heat had
caused the bark to flake off a number of trees.
I headed back to North
Avoca beach at about 10am. It looked okay but it was actually heaps better in
the water - lots of good waves and only a small crowd. A feel good tired now.
About mid afternoon, the girls and I had coffee down at Terrigal Beach.
5 January 2018
Jacinta and I drove over to Pearl Beach.
We had coffees and breakfast on the beach. I then had a snorkel along
the southern point but the visibility as very poor. The further out I went the
worse it got until I couldn't see anything at all.
I returned to shore and had a walk out to Green Point along the shore
line. There was a short ocean pool and interesting rock formations on the
cliffs. The end of the point was a terraced like cliff that was easily climbed.
From the top there were great views over the coastline north and south.
Next, we drove around Patonga - beach, pier, the creek and camping
area.
6 January 2018
We woke early and drove to the Belmont Wetlands in Newcastle.
The starting track was flat and easy. At the end of the track was a
road leading to the beach. We followed that and then walked over the sand dunes
to the ocean. This place was 4WD heaven. The beach was rutted with tyre tracks
and cars were parked amongst the dunes.
We backtracked and turned off towards Belmont Lagoon. The lagoon looked
very shallow and was pretty. Further along there was another turn off which
ended in three concrete structures covered in graffiti.
We followed one more track with a pipe line beside us leading to the
cycle way.
We cycled back to the van along the cycle way. Jacinta stopped and I
backtracked to a couple of off path tracks.
After the ride, we had a swim and a laze in the sun at Hams Beach.
There was a small, mediocre surf at North Avoca. It was okay for about
1/2 hour before the tide got too low.
Out of the water and returning to the van I ran into Paul, Ingrid, Larry, Bryson and Brett. I stopped
for a bit of a chat time.
In the afternoon, I had an ocean swim at the Haven and a relax and
people watch with Jacinta.
2 January 2018
I picked up Chloe at train station and was home by 2am.
I started the day sleepy and had a surf check but the tide was high and
the waves very small.
Time for a snorkel at the Haven. There were lots fish in spots and one
large catfish. The visibility was reasonable and was quite clear from above a
1/2 metre above the bottom.
Jacinta had a walk while I was snorkeling. When I got out we coordinated
ourselves for cappuccinos and a sit in
the sun for me and the shade for Jacinta.
The rest of the day was house chores.
3 January 2018
We drove to Moonie beach on the border of Munmorah SCA. The beach was a
long crescent shape that attached itself at the southern end to flat island.
We walked in the opposite direction following the rocks close to the
waves. The rocks were a sandstone conglomerate with a flattish area near the
sea edge and terrace-like cliffs on the land side.
It was a fun hike around the rocks leading to a cave. I walked inside
the cave but the northern side was not passable as it dropped straight into the
water.
We back tracked a short distance and scaled the cliffs. At the top, we
followed the track to Catherine Hill Bay then back tracked to the van.
It was hot so we drove to Catherine Hill By Beach and had a short walk
to the base of the high jetty followed by a swim. The beach was very pretty
with Wallarah National Park starting at the northern end of the beach.
A surf check at North Avoca but the waves were too small.
I drove around the point to Terrigal haven for a swim and coffee.
20 December 2017
A great kayak at Copacabana Lagoon. The water was the clearest I have ever seen it. The birds were out and about. Even a sea eagle may an appearance.
Later I had an ocean swim at Terrigal Haven.
22 December 2017
Brother-in-law Mark came today for a Christmas stay.
I had an okay small surf at North Avoca. There were some okay fun rights.
Later, I visited an old mate Mark B. His place was amazing - huge, native fruit trees at the front and a sloped backyard big enough to make into a bike track leading up to a ridge. Robo was there as well visiting Mark. I haven'r seen Mark since the early eighties. It was great to find out that we still had a lot of things in common.
23 December 2017
A mtb ride at Bouddi National Park. I did the turkey nw strom trails and tracks. It was a fun ride. I tried to concentrate on being smoother and more in control.
There was unbelievable amounts of mosquitoes. It as hard to stop riding as they would pounce on me.
After the ride, I had a small fun surf at North Avoca.
In the afternoon, I had an ocean swim at Haven and then coffee with Jacinta and Mark (brother in law)
24 December 2017
A poor surf .
Bronwyn (Jacinta's sister) and Tony (B-in-L) arrived for a Christmas stay
25 December 2017
Merry Christmas - first breakfast then the presents were opened. Everyone was happy with their stash.
Sean (nephew) and family arrived for a massive Xmas lunch. Santa (moi) gave out the Secret Santa presents. We played croquet in yard with the kids then settled back to an afternoon of Kara cocktails.
An excellent day!
26 December 2017
An early surf check to messy onshore winds
I needed to burn off the excess food so I continued onward for a mtb ride at Kincumba Mountain on the informal tracks. It was just what I needed.
Afterwards, an ocean swim at Haven
Late in the afternoon, I had a kayak with B-in-L Tony. We counted 15 species of bird on our paddle around of Avoca Lagoon as well as a colony of bats.
27 December 2017
I drove to Brisbane Water National Park for mtb ride on the Warrah tracks. A great ride with terrific views over bush and ocean. I sat with nice view
on an overhanging ledge looking over the Hawkesbury River, patonga and Pittwater.
Next, a swim and cappuccino at Pearl Beach.
28 December 2017
Mark B-in-L went home.
After he left, Had a small but fun surf at North Avoca.
I got a call from mate Windsurfer Mark and met him at Monday Street on Tuggerah Lake for a windsurf. I had one run out and
back. I got a good run half way out and 1/2 way back. There really wasn't quite enough wind so back
home I went.
30 December 2017
Bronwyn and Tony went home.
Jacinta and I relaxed at the Haven.
Later, I had a small okay surf at North Avoca.
Jacinta, Mark B and I drove to Hardy's Bay RSL to watch and listen to Big Yellow Moon Band. An old friend of mine from college days is the lead singer.
31 December 2017
Down the Haven for ocean swim and coffee with Jacinta.
Mark B and I had a mtb ride at Bouddi. It was a fast run on the Turkey, NW ridge and Strom
trails/tracks.
Hot and sweaty we had a swim at nearby Killcare Beach.
New Year's Eve was at Paul's and Ingrid's. It was pleasant and fun. Paul is a painting artist and had just finished his new studio. I was very impressed with one of his beach/ocean paintings when he toned down the light. The scene looked so much like dusk.
We met lots of new people and then we walked to a lookout over Terrigal to watch the 9pm fireworks. This was the first in 19 years due to extreme antisocial behaviour. Unfortunately, the fireworks barge which was moored about 50 metres off the beach caught fire a few minutes after the display started. It blew up and fireworks were flying all over the place. People ran from beach and two
technicians on the barge jumped in water. The technicians were very lucky and escaped with minor burns.
Back to Paul's place and more drinks and then the final countdown.
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